Boy in the Striped Pajamas

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Transcript of Boy in the Striped Pajamas

1940194219451938

1944Boy in the Striped Pajamas About the Author John Boyne Born April 30, 1971 in Dublin Studied at Dublin College in English Literature, and later went on to receive the Curtis Brown prize at the University of East Anglia.Also wrote A History of Loneliness and Stay Where You are and then Leave. A regular book reviewer for The Irish Times, and judges for both the Hennessy Literary Awards and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary AwardHistorical Background Set in Berlin, then the family moves to West Poland, where Auschwitz was located. (The children cal Auschwitz "Out-With") Jewish Holocaust: 1938-1945 in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Yugoslavia, Greece, Norway, Western Poland, and many more. Led by Adolph Hitler and the Nazi party, who rose Germany out of the ashes after the devastating first World War. He recieved a 90% positive popularity vote for his work.

Historical Background cont. German citizen educationThe Nazi party controlled the education system from the kindergarten age to university level. Teachers who were members of the Nazi party would come to school in Nazi uniforms, were forced to swear their allegiance to Hitler, and were mandated the teaching material.Passages “Herr Liszt was particularly fond of history and geography, while Bruno preferred reading and art. ‘Those things are useless to you,’ insisted the teacher. ‘A sound understanding of the social sciences is far more important in this day and age.’ -p. 97

These things, social sciences, such as geography and history, were what the Nazi party focused on in their education systems. Identification of HistoryAnti-semitismThe blonde woman that was with HitlerThe family had servantsLieutenant Kotler's father left Germany for SwitzerlandDialogueNot historically authentic in regards to language the book is written inVery unlikely that German soldiers under the Nazi regime would speak English - German supremacyBruno and Shmuel discuss where they're from when Shmuel begins by saying, "No I'm from Poland,' said Shmuel. Bruno frowned. 'Then why do you speak German?' he asked. 'Because you said hello in German. So I answered in German." (Boyne 111)Uses English spelling for words such as "tyre", "colour", "pyjama", and "practise"Dialogue cont.Authentic in regards to how a child might think or speakUses "child-like expressions" such as "Out Of Bounds At All Times And No Exceptions" referring to his father's office and "Hopeless Case" referring to his sisterOften is written with an egocentric, child-like biasMaria tells him he doesn't know what it's like to be hungry and he disagrees saying that he feels "a bit peckish" thenSymbolismBrunoInnocence and purity of childrenIgnorance of the German community during WWIIThe FatherSelfishness and crueltyMan's struggle for powerPavelRepresents the millions of Jews sent to concentration camps and their sacrificesShmuelReflection of Bruno: same birthdayBrain Workers 1. Why does Boyne use use "Out-With" instead of Auschwitz?2. How would you react if you were displaced to a terrible place with no friends like Bruno for nothing other then a job opportunity? 3. Would you have approached a boy on the other side of the fence, knowing you were not supposed to be there? Symbolism cont.The FencePhysical and social barrier between Jewish community and Germans The Star of DavidA religious symbol to the Jewish communityIn WWII, used to identify Jews and was thought (by Germans) to be shamefulThe House in Berlin"Simpler times" and the pre-WWII eraStriped pajamasForced conformity & Bruno's naivetéConcluding RemarksDebate over the what the likelihood is that this could have happenedUnlikely that a child of Shmuel's age would be at a work campThe fence surrounding the camp was electricUnlikely that Bruno would not know who the Fury was or what a "Jew" wasBook said to have "horrified critics and thrilled readers"CharactersPoint of ViewPlotWorks CitedBarber, John. "A Debate over the 'limits of Representation'" The Globe and Mail.N.p., 05 June 2010. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

Passages cont. “Out Of Bounds At All Times And No Exceptions” various pages

This is a term used to describe Bruno’s Father’s office. Boyne’s choice of words here exemplifies the level of secrecy at which the Nazi party ran Its operations, and the level at which they hid their actions from their own citizens.BrunoNine years old - Loves adventure/exploringSon of the Nazi Commandant in Hitler's armyRepresents childhood innocence and man's capacity for kindness & compassionSlowly learns more in-tune with reality but doesn't truly understandShmuelNine-year-old Jewish boy from Poland living in AuschwitzJust as innocent and naive as BrunoThe FuryAdolf HitlerCharacters cont.GretelBruno's sister who he refers to as a "Hopeless Case"Becomes very entranced by Lt. KotlerBruno's fatherCommandant of the Nazi concentration camp, AuschwitzVery intimidating, cold, and selfish man that cares most about power and rankBruno's motherred hair and green eyesopposed to the move to AuschwitzExposition: Bruno and his family move from Berlin to the countryside, because the job that Bruno's father has requires him to move to the countryside. Bruno doesn't like it there and wants to move back, because he misses his friends and the bigger house.Rising Action: Bruno is slowly adjusting to living at Auschwitz. One day, he decides to go exploring near the fence and meets a boy named Shmuel. They share the same birthday and quickly become friends. Because of the fence, Bruno and Shmuel do not play, so, instead, they just sit and talk. A year after living in Auschwitz, the decision is made that Mother, Gretel, and Bruno are going to be moving back to Berlin.Climax: After making a plan with Shmuel, Bruno sneaks into the camp so that he can help Shmuel look for his missing father. Bruno, Shmuel, and other Jews in the camp are rounded up to go on a march into an airtight chamber. Bruno is never seen or heard from after that day.Falling action: After Bruno's disappearance, his family wonders where Bruno has gone. Bruno's father is confused when he finds Bruno's clothes outside the fence, but he realizes that Bruno went into the camp.Conclusion: The narrator of the last chapter concludes the novel by saying that the story of Bruno and his family "happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again. Not in this day and age."Told in first-person point of view from the perspective of Bruno. Throughout the novel, small bits of information are given to clarify on certain points in the third person point of view. the The last paragraph is also told in the third person point of view.Characters cont.MariaFamily maid of the houseKind and quiet but opens up to BrunoHas respect for Bruno's father because of his care for her and her familyLieutenant (Kurt) KotlerYoung soldier working at Auschwitz Harsh, agressive, and cold - feared by BrunoPavelJewish prisoner that works as a waiter in Bruno's houseWas a doctor in PolandCares for Bruno's injured leg